Seaming tape



Uec. 2Q; P. D. WRIGHT 2,727,295

SEAMING TAPE Filed April 25, 1955 ATTORNEY United States Patent O SEAMING TAPE Paul D. Wright, New York, N. Y., assignor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,699

6 Claims. (Cl. 28-78) This invention relates to a seaming tape comprising a paper backing strip to wfn'ch transversely extending lengths of untwisted yarns are attached by longitudinal rows of stitches.

The tape embodying this invention is useful for uniting sheet material to resist forces acting transversely of the seam or joint. For example the tape may be used to join cardboard and to reinforce seams and corners in cardboard boxes. Where the paper backing of the tape is extensible longitudinally of the seaming tape, it is particularly useful for forming butt joints between the edges of two pieces of carpet. In such constructions the transversely extending yarns are adhesively united to the edges to be joined and they secure the seams against transverse separation. For that purpose a strong adhesive bond is required, and it is desirable that the yarns have little or no extensibility under the load to which they may be subjected in the seam.

Yarns of low extensibility and high strength are obtained by employing untwisted yarns made of very long or substantially continuous tilaments. Heretofore, such yarns containing relatively ne tilaments have been used as transverse members in seaming tapes, but in order to secure each of the laments of the yarn to the paper strip base, the yarns were saturated with an adhesive and then adhered to the paper strip. This procedure has the disadvantages of stiiening the tape, and increasing the labor and cost of the yarn. Furthermore, this pretreatment of the yarn with the adhesive resulted in a weaker bond between the yarn and the parts to be seamed together by the subsequent addition of the adhesive to form the seam, because the additional adhesive could not penetrate between the laments, and only formed a surface union with the adhesive saturated yarns instead of being interlocked with the filaments of yarn.

ln accordance with applicants invention the untwisted yarns of low extensibility and high strength are made of long or substantially continuous ine iilaments, and the yarns are mechanically attached to the paper backing by longitudinal rows of stitches, which envelop or extend over and secure all of the filaments to the paper backing without saturating the yarns with any filling material, such as an adhesive.

Therefore, the additional labor and cost of pretreating the yarns are eliminated and the interstices between the laments are left open to receive the adhesive to be tinally added to the tape in forming the seam between two parts to be united. In forming the searn the adhesive is applied to the transverse yarns, and it penetrates into the interstices between the filaments thereof and between the yarns to the paper backing, which protects its supporting surface from the adhesive. The freshly saturated and adhesively coated yarns, and the margins of the parts to be joined are then pressed together. A strong bond is thus formed between the yarns and the margins of such joined parts by virtue of the single unitary application of the adhesive which penetrates between the filaments and thereby forms a me- 2,727,295 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 ICC chanical lock therewith, as well as a surface bond with the iilaments.

The invention, its objects and advantages are further described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a seaming tape embodying this invention, in which the method of using the tape for seaming together the edges of two pieces of carpet is illustrated; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the tape and the method of making it.

Referring to Fig. 1, the tape 10 comprises a strip of paper 11, to which transversely extending lengths 12 of yarns 13 are attached by longitudinal rows 14 of stitches. The yarn 13 is made in the form of an untwisted ribbon of long, or substantially continuous filaments 15, which may for example be made of rayon, nylon, glass or silk. The term untwisted yarn is used herein to include a slight twist to permit greater ease in handling. For example, the twist may be about one turn per inch. The laments 15 are not twisted together and are formed into `a thin at ribbon-like band to obtain ythe high tensile strength and low stretch required toresist the transverse paper stock, and where the seaming tape is to be used for forming a carpet seam, such paper is creped by forming transverse crinkles 16 therein to render it extensible in the lengthwise direction of the tape.

lt has been found that where the paper is creped, a 40 to 60 pound weight of kraft paper is satisfactory, but of course heavier or lighter weights may be used depending upon the purpose for which the tape is to be used. In any event the paper should be suiciently heavy to retain the rows 14 of stitches, and the stitches should be suciently long as not to form a continuous cut in the paper along the individual rows.

The rows 14 of stitches are made of textile threads, and they are preferably formed on a chain stitch machine. At least two rows 14 of the stitches extend along the outer margin of the lengths 12 of the yarns 13, and as many intermediate rows are used as may be required to hold the lengths 12 to the paper 11.

The seaming tape 11 may be made as shown in Fig. 2, in which live rows 14 of stitches 17 are used to secure the lengths 12 of the two oppositely extending yarns 13 to the strip of paper 11. In the manufacture of the tape two cones or other units 18 are mounted above the strip of paper 11, and a yarn 13 from each cone is threaded through an eye 19 in the transversely reciprocating carriers, 2l), 21, and are tied together at 21 behind the row of needles of the sewing machine, which are then extending downwardly through the paper 11 to form the holes 22. The reciprocating arms 29, 21 move above and across the paper 11 in front of the needles, and carry the yarns 13 transversely of the paper 11 forming loops 23 around each of the end needles while all of the needles remain down through the paper 11. The arm 21 passes over the arm 20, and when they approach the ends of their strokes a downwardly extending projection 24 on arm 21 and an upwardly extending projection 24 on the arm 20 strike rearwardly inclined stationary cam surfaces 25 which throw the yarns 13 against the needles 26 and the eyes 19 behind the needles 26. After two such lengths 12 of the yarns 13 have been carried in front of the needles 26, they move upwardly, and the yarns 13 jump to the rear of the needles, and paper 11 is fed underneath the needles. When the needles come down, they pass over two lengths 12 of the yarns. The arms 20, 21 are again reciprocated while the needles are down, and the next stitch 17 is then made. In the manufacture of the teme as just described each of the stitches 17 include two of the lengths 12 of the yarns 13, and each stitch of the twoend rows 14 extends through eachfof'the end-loops 23 iformed in tlzeyarns :13; The lengths 12 are thus secured to the other.

Pig. I illustrates .the anse of the. tape: 10. 4for seeming the edges 27 of two pieces of carpet 28 together. In this .operation the'seaming tape dll is placed on zthe floor, and -a dlexible-adhive,\sudr,easilatex is coated .onto the lengtlm 12. ofthe yarns '13. Theedges 237'of the .carpet 28 are abutted together and folded dow-naonto the .tape 1h 'alongthc center line 29 thereof .so .as .to ihold l:to-

gether the seam 30 of the carpetaalnng suchtline. vAfter' the cement :has dried, thecarpet may lbe..\st1'etche.din place. The rlongitudinalextensibility ofthe .paper ".11 and rowsf .14 of stitches -17permits .the carpet tto be stretched lengthwise Without ruptung the tape. Any .stretch "of the .carpet -transversely t of the seam. .nlay zoccur 'without interference vof lthe tape 10,1anchthe substantially inextensible lengths '12 of the yarns 13 being :adhered :to the carpet 28, they .willprevent'the seam 30 from :openlng up. v

While the preferred. form -of ithis invention has ybeen described herein, it 'will 'be understood that changes nnay be Amade Ywithout ldeparting from the :fspirit of the .invention, and itis intended to cover-:any .ch-anges :coming within the scope of the claims.

Having thus .described my invention, Ywhat I claimand desire to protectby Letters :Patent is:

l. A carpet '.searning :tape comprising aistrip of paper, untwiisted yarnsmade 4of :relatively tine. Ysubstantially lcontinuous lilaments extending ttransversel-y of said .str-ip, and.a plurali'ty;of longitudinal rows of'stitches securing said yarns .to 'said .paperstrip 2. A sming tape comprising .a .strip Lof paper, acontinuons untwisted `yarns extending transversely of said strip .in "a hack .and forth .path making .loops mear rthe margin of --said :strip fon :eachsidefthereo and :said yarns being secured :to said vpaper by longitudinal 'rows lof stitches.

:3. A carpet seamingitape :comprising a strip of longitudinlly .extensible paper, untwisted '-yarns tma'de of sub-- stantially continuous I.synthetic filaments extending .transversely .of said strip, and longitudinal :extensible rows oistitches securing said yarns ito .said paper strip iwh'ereby the top surface of said-.yarns are exposed .throughout their length, xexcepting '.where lthey are @crossed by :said rows .of stitches.

I4. :A *.carpet-seaming :tape comprising af-stripzof lonpaper 11 clusetoeach gitudinally .extensible paper having Ycrimps .ex..

tending transversely of said strip, continuous untwisted yarns made of substantially continuous synthetic filaments extending transversely of said strip in a back and forth path having loops thereinat each side of said strip spaced from the border thereof, and longitudinal exin each yarn neareach lsidemargin-of said paper, longitudinal rows of stitches securing said yarns to said strip, at least two of said rows of stitches extending along said loops, each stitch of said last mentioned rows passing through each Vof said loops, eachof -saidV stitches spanningthe `adjacent sides of adjacent loops formedin said :opposite extending Vseparate yarns.

6. A carpet seaming tape comprising a stripsoflong'itudinally extensible paperlhaving-crimps extending transversely thereof, two unt-wisted 'yarns extending invopposite directions transversely of -said -strip iin a Acontinuous backend forth. path having loopsformedfin:the` path of teach yarn v'near teach side marginfof 4said paper, extensible :rows of stitches Aextending across said 'transverse yarns, at least twoof tsaid rows of Vstitches :extending across :said loops at `reach of said side margins yof said paper, each stitch .inssaid last mentioned rows of-stitches passing 'through :each .of said iloopsl and spanning 'the ad Y jacent sides .of the adjacent Yloops :formed lin lthe path 1 of ;saidoppositely extending separate yarns, and the Asurface of said yarnsbeing exposeditoireceive adhesive into the interstices fbetween said' laments of reach -yarn and into the .interstices between said yarns.

References Citedintbeleof this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,505 Merwitz June v5, 19,34 2,303,777 Warshaw Dec. 1, 1942 2,396,525 .Newman Mar. 12', 1946 2,432,485 ,Newman Dec. .9, 1947 2,448,928 Stahl Sept. -7, 1948 2,523,865 Dildilian Sept. 2.6, 1950 2,552,114 .Reinhard May .8, .1951 2,647,850 Reinhard Aug. 44, v .1953 2,690,661 Briggs Oct.. 5, 1954 

